I am a 60-ish married engineer that has dealt with moderate eczema my entire life, primarily through the use of topical steroids. In early 2012 things started going wrong, and this blog is a personal diary of my journey through Topical Steroid Withdrawal, also known as Red Skin Syndrome, Topical Steroid Addiction, or Steroid Induced Eczema. I have been completely free from all steroids since July 9, 2013. Please see www.itsan.org for more info and feel free to post here!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

July 24, 2012 - Steroids to the Rescue! Not.

I went to see my GP because in addition to the itching and rashes my ankles were swelling. He was unaware of "Zyrtec withdrawal" but was sympathetic. Prescribed the infamous oral round of methylprednisolone. I had immediate relief of symptoms and on second day of pills I felt unnaturally euphoric. As soon as pills were gone, however, the itching returned.

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"Addiction to (Topical) Steroids is a serious problem which reaches tragic proportions in some cases. It is more common than realized, sly and seductive and will be prevented only when the physician becomes as impressed with the capacity of the steroids to do harm as they are with their power to suppress, not cure, virtually any inflammatory disorder." - Dr. Albert M. Kligman M.D. Ph.D. and Dr. Peter J. Frosch M.D., International Society of Topical Dermatology Journal, 1979